Crossfit workout craze

There's no doubt it's a tough workout. There have been cases of life-threatening injuries at centers that offer the program. But those injuries are rare and the benefits of the novel class are promising. Healthcheck reporter Ali Gorman tried it to see if the pain is worth the gain.

Squats, overhead presses, push-ups and pull-ups and that's just the warm-up!

But despite the fit bodies, some say CrossFit is too intense. In fact the founder documents at least 5 cases where people who started the program suffered a potentially life-threatening injury called rhabdomyolysis or rhabdo.

Rhabdo is a condition where muscles break down rapidly, creating toxic byproducts, which then pass through the kidneys and can cause kidney failure and eventually death.

He calls it the most intense new workout he's seen in the past decade.

As for the rhabdomyeloysis Dr. Ciccoti said that's rare and was probably a result of exercisers going out too hard too fast.

"You control the intensity of your workout, we have to sometimes reel people in," said Stehle.

Stehle said there have been no major injuries at CrossFit New Jersey. Part of that comes from careful supervision. Everyone has to learn the moves and how to do them properly.

The program involves quick moves with little rest. As you get tired it becomes harder to keep good form which Dr. Ciccoti said is vital because the more likely risks of CrossFit are muscle and joint problems.